From: owner-fegmaniax-digest@ecto.org To: fegmaniax-digest@ecto.org Reply-To: fegmaniax@ecto.org Errors-To: owner-fegmaniax-digest@ecto.org Subject: Feg Digest V4 #178 Fegmaniax Digest Volume 4 Number 178 Send posts to fegmaniax@ecto.org Send subscribe/unsubscribe commands to majordomo@ecto.org Send comments, etc. to the listowner at owner-fegmaniax@ecto.org FegMANIAX! Web Page: http://remus.rutgers.edu/~woj/fegmaniax/ Archives are available at http://archive.uwp.edu/pub/music/lists/fegmaniax/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Topics: ------- ------- Re: Odds & Sods re: categories, 60s quiz, Re: Odds & Sods Queen Elvis and Oblivion Nicky the Stooge (long) (fwd) Nicky the Stooge (long) Re: LIGHTBULB HEAD AND A GOLDEN ARM? Re: The Rain Parade Re: Syd Barrett covers Re: categories, 60s quiz, East Germany Nigel & the Crosses it's alright, ma, I'm only sighing... Re: it's alright, ma, I'm only sighing... Re: Syd Barrett covers Re: it's alright, ma, I'm only sighing... Re: it's alright, ma, I'm only sighing... The clam beneath the boulder's hiding SYD misc Life as we know it Re: it's alright ma, I'm only sighing... Re: Syd Barrett covers surgery USA today Re: Life as we know it Re: The clam beneath the boulder's hiding METRO REVIEW Re: surgery madness Re: surgery Re: madness Re: The clam beneath the boulder's hiding Re: Queen Elvis and Oblivion Re: it's alright, ma, I'm only sighing... SEOUL TRAIN SCRABBLE Re: I DISed a girl info on tour dates? Storm Lantern lyrics Re: Syd Barrett covers blech to rem Re: Life as we know it tributes Seeking Trades Lennon Re: Lennon Another review (a positive one) Bad UK Reviews Re: hallucinogens? Re: 1) QE 2) ME 3) Birdshead 4) Me & ME 5) REM Virgin Sampler? Re: Virgin Sampler? De Chiciro ------------------------------ From: "jeffery j vaska" Subject: Re: Odds & Sods Date: Sun, 15 Sep 1996 20:16:03 -0700 >Kevin M Mathews wrote: >Am I the only feglister who isn't gaga over REM? I mean, I own _Life's Rich >Pageant_, _Murmur_ and _Document_, but don't really consider myself a true >fan. That may smack of blasphemy on this list -- I know there's a close >musical kinship between RH and REM -- but I just don't dig them the way I do >Robyn. Sometimes I feel as though I'm failing the musicl prerequisites of >this list by not even caring about what REM does. Any thoughts? Anyone else >share my feelings? kevin - yeah, i agree. actually, i only like the REM albums where mikey sings gibberish. the band totally started to get irritating (still great band though), when he started preaching his gospel. haven't heard the new album yet - will wait for mtv to play it to death. i'm with you 100%! on another note - does anybody know (or have) any of the sci-fi lit. which robyn's father has supposedly written? i can't remember where i heard about it, but apparently some odd stuff like apartment buildings just up and flying off to outer space. anybody? is this just some lame rumor? ____________________________________________________________ ethnic/world music director, kzuu 90.7 fm @ washington state university u.s. correspondent, brasil 2000 103.7 fm - sao paolo, brasil vaska, jeffery | jvaska@mail.wsu.edu ------------------------------ From: "jeffery j vaska" Subject: re: categories, 60s quiz, Date: Sun, 15 Sep 1996 20:37:04 -0700 >>james d. wrote this... >>But IMHO the three categories should be by sound, not subject - > >>Wistful - Raymond Chandler Evening >>Bouncy - Balloon Man >>Angry/Bitter - Cynthia Mask have been thinking of a way to categorize the songs. this is probably not a major breakthrough but this is where i'm at (i am focusing on the lyrics probably exclusively)... 1) death 2) sex 3) the paradoxical 4) a special separate category for "trilobite" - hehe! of course, these would oftentimes lapse over their respective rims as well. i have something else to add but i forgot what it was...oh well. ta-ra!...jv ____________________________________________________________ ethnic/world music director, kzuu 90.7 fm @ washington state university u.s. correspondent, brasil 2000 103.7 fm - sao paolo, brasil vaska, jeffery | jvaska@mail.wsu.edu ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 15 Sep 1996 22:37:59 -0700 (PDT) From: "Trixie, Bunny and Peaches" Subject: Re: Odds & Sods oopps...i sent this to glen, but forgot the list. trying it again. On Sun, 15 Sep 1996, Putney Swope wrote: > > Am I the only feglister who isn't gaga over REM? .... i can contribute the fact that i have a similar passion for them, too. i have only two products, so am fairly out to lunch on the matter. i don't think that they go hand in hand. that's would be saying that if you like the small faces you'll love led zeppelin. although what i do own is quite good, i have little urge to buy more of it. this urge is reinforced by a severe lack of money, too. i however feel obligated to pony of some of the dough for their 80 million paycheck, but buying the new lp. but, even here i am weary. i have trouble charting course into the major american pop waters. the last time i think was with rem and 'automatic for the people'. a had to automatically sell it back to the people i bought it from. and monster just did not seem any different from a host of other records i own so i passed on that, too. so i ask this, is there any reason for me to deviate from my present course? i might think there is if some persuasive reviews are posted. **other questions/comments of note --no robyn content, warning** i recall a long time ago there was a web site that had a list of every recorded product that was going to be released, no matter who the artist or label. i have forgotten the address and have not been able to find it by searching every engine available. this was also available as a mailing once a month or so to e* addresses. anyone know where this is at, or what happened to it. rougher robyn connection, deteriorating fast. someone mentioned the newish band, kula shaker. i too am interested to hear what they have to offer. rumored to have a tune with a sanscrit [sp?] corus. this may near the faux-latin/babbling that robyn has performed at times. is there a date for us release of their lp? i am done now and off to write about carl sauer, .chris ------------------------------ From: RxBroome@aol.com Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 04:04:34 -0400 Subject: Queen Elvis and Oblivion Terry asks: Q: Are there any labels out there that you guys *like*? Rex answers: yeah, the ones that reissue stiff that ultimately turned out to be cool, years later. Hindsight is 20/20, y'know. As to the multinational conglomerates trying to second-guess the tastes of the youth of today-- it's not for me to "like" or "dislike" them. As the Band said, "You pay for what you need, and you leave the rest..." However, I WILL accept geeky, holier-than-thou credit for pointing out the difference between the "good" and "shitty" Beach Boys records entitled "Surf's Up" (I think the Amazing James did mention it initially)... congrats on finding the decent one... Kevin says: "Am I the only feglister who isn't gaga over REM? I mean, I own _Life's Rich Pageant_, _Murmur_ and _Document_, but don't really consider myself a true fan. That may smack of blasphemy on this list --" Love REM, owe them everything, including perhaps my life, but the Robyn connection is way overstated, so I understand and forgive this. I think that the only real connection lies in Peter Buck's Soft Boys fanship-- underscored by the recent appearance of "Dark Green Energy" on "Greatest Hits"... Stipe sucks on "She Doesn't Exist" and clearly feels a little funny singing "Just like a boil!" on "Dark Green"... I don't think he gets it... Susan, darling Susan, at the thought of whose beauty all known superlatives bang their inadequate, sorry heads against cold granite walls in dumb, flaccid frustration at their hopelessness to encompass, ultimately giving up and heading down the pub to try and put the whole silly project behind them, ammends my dismissal of "Queen Elvis" with the following: "Still, "Devil's Coachman" does rock the world. It's the only song I really like on that record." ...to which I add that I also kinda dig "Knife". And the title track is great... too bad it's on the vastly superior "Eye" instead... ...speaking of which, having just listened to the CD version of "Eye"... has anyone else noticed the similarity between the "bonus" version of "Queen Elvis" and "You and Oblivion"? Seems to be the same key, chord voicing, and electric guitar tone, in addition to sharing a very confessional tone. Wouldn't even notice the comparison between the acoustic "QE" and the ME "Y&O", though... Also spracht Susan, whose red shoes the angels want to wear, on the topic of "Moss Elixir": "I seem to be bonding with it too. 'Specially "I Am Not Me". To quote Rx, 'some of you will know why'" Whatever could she mean? Rex ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 10:15:30 +0100 (BST) From: M R Godwin Subject: Nicky the Stooge (long) (fwd) I am forwarding this (long) post from Greg Landry, as I think he forgot to copy it to the list. If you _have_ seen it already, sorry! - MG ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Sat, 14 Sep 1996 09:00:26 -0500 From: Greg Landry Subject: Nicky the Stooge (long) Greetings fegs, I am primarily a lurker here on the list, but the Nicholas "Nicky" Barber review of the 12-Bar show really got me stewed. The review doesn't even mention how the show went, it just hammers Robyn and his music. Nicky seems to have been harboring a certain contempt for Robyn, even before seeing the show. I think he should have had one of the grown-ups he works with go in his place. This seems to me like the professional thing to do. Following are my humble opinions regarding Nicky's review. I left the entire review in tact in case someone hasn't seen it yet. I also retained the address info so kindly provided by Mike Godwin. Hmmm, lets see what we've got here: >"I don't get it and I don't want it either" by Nicholas Barber >Independent on Sunday, 8 Sept 96. > >"In rock terms, the first week in September is the Twilight Zone, the >interregnum between the summer's big festivals and autumn's big tours, the >week when we get over seeing bands in field and get ready to see bands in >arenas. A perfect time, then, to go to London's smallest venues. The >smallest of them all is the 12-bar Club, a room of such doll's house >proportions that the singer balanced on the soapbox stage can read what >the reviewer is scribbling in his notepad: an especially unnerving >situation on Tuesday, because the singer was Robyn Hitchcock and I wasn't >scribbling anything very nice. > >"When the rest of the country was going punk, Hitchcock was flying the >goat for surreal psychedelia of the English-eccentric variety, in the hope >that he would be mistaken for the long-lost son of Syd Barrett and >Sergeant Pepper. So I assume the complaint here is that Robyn didn't march in lock-step with the rest of the pack? A non conformist if you will -- can't have that! I'd love to see what this clown would have written (or did write) about these "punk" bands before punk had become palatable. Also . . . what's this garbage about S. Barrett and Sgt. P.? Perhaps I am alone in this, but I find little thematic comparison between this artist, album, and Robyn. > In the 12-Bar Club there was no room for a band to help >foster this illusion. Instead we had to concentrate on the sweating, >sinister man himself, If Nicky is lucky, maybe Madonna or Michael Bolton will play at the 12-Bar soon. >and his lyrics, which are baffling, contrived, >miserable nonsense about German planes circling a chessboard, and a woman >asking the Egyptian god of death to lengthen her headphone lead. It would >have saved us all time and discomfort if he'd just worn a baseball cap >with an arm and mallet sewn on, and emblzoned with the words: 'I'm >kerrrazy! Honest!' > I find that while Nicky tries to slam Robyn here, Robyn still seems to shine through the onslaught. If I had never heard of Robyn, the above comments on his lyrics would have sent me racing to my local record store to find one of his CDs. German planes circling chess boards, you simply have to love that! >"And yet, Hitchcock is a cult celebrity. He has been adopted by American >college radio, and by REM, who were heavily influenced by his former band, >the Soft Boys. You either get it or you don't, I suppose. I don't get it, >and I don't want it, either. After all, rhyming 'Stalin' with 'darling', >as he does on his new album, 'Moss Elixir' (Warner) is not big or clever; Yes Nicky, you're right, you don't get it. That doesn't seem to stop you though, does it? I think Nicky should write a book that explains the various religions being practiced around the globe. That's another item I would race out to buy. >the trick is to make it seem as if the words are where they are for some >purpose other than to rhyme with each other, and Hitchcock never pulls it >off. It's possible that he's a misunderstood genius, but if so, he's not >one of those useful geniuses who invent helicopters or formulate laws of >physics, he's one of those lesser geniuses who irritate people with their >persistent daftness". > Nicky sure has Robyn's number doesn't he. Ya can't fool ole Nicky! He's a smart one. I've rambled on enough now. But I feel much better : ) GL > * * * * * * > >MG: It's not exactly damning with faint praise, is it? > >Note for US fegs: The IoS is a national quality broadsheet newspaper - >probably sells 400,000 or so, to supposedly 'intelligent', >politically-aware graduate readers (like me!). I haven't got an e-mail >address for them, but this is their postal address. > >Independent on Sunday >1 Canada Square >Canary Wharf >London >E14 5DL >Telephone No: 0171 293 2000 >Fax No: 0171 293 2047 > >- Mike Godwin > > > Greg Landry Morris, IL U.S.A. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ As Trout departed, he sent this telepathic message to the Creator of the Universe, serving as His eyes, ears and consience: "Am headed for Forty-second Street now. How much do you already know about Forty-second Street?" * * * K. Vonnegut BoC ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 10:47:15 +0100 (BST) From: M R Godwin Subject: Re: LIGHTBULB HEAD AND A GOLDEN ARM? > Victor Triola wrote: > > Have you fine folks ever discussed if the > > deliriously-twisted images Mr. H concocts are inspired by any sort of > > hallucinogen? In that 1988 interview I posted last month, RH says 'It's actually quite an effort to do the washing up or the shopping - I'm really happiest when I've got a piano or a guitar or I'm going for a long walk'. So how does he write? 'I usually make notes when I'm in orbit, and whenever I come to rest I sing through them'. What does 'in orbit' mean in the foregoing? Perhaps Tracy would give us an exegesis? - Mike Godwin ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 12:07:21 +0100 (BST) From: M R Godwin Subject: Re: The Rain Parade On Sun, 15 Sep 1996, Terrence M Marks wrote: > 1) Woohoo! I picked up Emergency Third Rail Power Trip by the Rain > Parade today. (it was in the really cheap bin at a record sale. $2 for > it. And I liked it. THanks to (I believe) James Dignan, who > reccomended them. My faith in fegmania is restored. It's good isn't it? I just consulted the Rough Guide to Rock, who listed their records as: "Emergency Third Rail Power Trip (1983), named after a sign on a San Francisco subway wall. "Explosions In The Glass Palace (1984), an EP that showed that the band's majesty was undiminished. They then signed to Island, who rush-released: "Beyond The Sunset (1985), a weedy and uninspired live album recorded in Japan. With only a couple of decent new songs to recommend it, there was an all-too-obvious odour of hasty cash-in. "1986's Crashing Dream studio set was packed with worthwhile songs but sounded watered-down. The band weren't impressed with it, either: their original demos (available on the ultra-scarce mail-order Demolition CD) reveal plans for a much denser, Television-influenced album". * * * * * * I think that Explosions in the Glass Palace is the one with 'No Easy Way Down' on it, which is easily their bast track. There is also a live version on Beyond the Sunset - which is a pretty good record (better than the above review): the live album also features a cracking version of Tom Verlaine's 'Ain't That Nothing'. > > 2) Do any of you knwo anything about a band called "The Phantom Tollbooth"? Anyone heard of them? No, but the name comes from an excellent children's book by Norton Juster, with illustrations by the great Jules Feiffer. - Mike Godwin ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 12:16:28 +0100 (BST) From: M R Godwin Subject: Re: Syd Barrett covers On Sun, 15 Sep 1996, Daniel Saunders wrote: > Is there a list of Syd Barrett songs Robyn Hitchcock has covered? The > only two I know about are Vegetable Man and Dominoes. I'd love to hear > RH sing some other stuff off the solo albums. Hi Daniel! Definitely: / Astronomy Domine Gigolo Aunt I think someone also mentioned: Terrapin And, piscatorially speaking, I would be amazed if he hadn't had a shot at: Octopus (aka Clowns and Jugglers) I'm sure there are others. Incidentally, I was interested to see (on Uncarved Pumpkins) that he had performed 'Dominoes' and 'Gigolo Aunt' quite recently, as in interviews he appears to be trying to shake off the Barrett connection. - Mike Godwin ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 12:22:45 +0100 (BST) From: M R Godwin Subject: Re: categories, 60s quiz, On Mon, 16 Sep 1996, James Dignan wrote: > >6. Terence Stamp > >7. Julie Christie > >8 & 9. Yipes. Don't know. > > if this is right, then it's "Far from the Madding Crowd", based on Thomas > Hardy's novel. YES IT'S RIGHT - WELL DONE! > >>Anyone for tennis? > > > >Wouldn't that be nice? ;) That's the third reference to that song I've heard > >in as many days. Think I'll have to go by a copy of the album (_Fresh Cream_ > >or _Disraeli Gears_?). It came out as a single under the title 'Anyone for Tennis (The Savage Seven Theme)' which confirms the movie connection. Can't think why anyone would want it - it's a real throwaway, unlike 'Dance the Night Away' or 'Tales of Brave Ulysses' (both on 'Gears'). - Mike Godwin ------------------------------ From: "James Isaacs" Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 13:54:02 CET-1CST Subject: East Germany Well, I have returned unscathed from the former east Germany, and I am sad to report no Robyn sightings in Dresden or Leipzig. Sigh ------------------------------ From: HAMISH_SIMPSON@HP-UnitedKingdom-om4.om.hp.com Date: Mon, 16 Sep 96 12:57:12 +0100 Subject: Nigel & the Crosses Item Subject: cc:Mail Text Hello you scrummy people, I dug out my old issues of BoB magazine and was reading the brief introductory article on the freebie Nige single. Who were they. The article says something like Robyn, two Peters (Buck & Blue?), Glenn (Tilbrook?, Billy (Bragg), Andy, Morris (not sure who they are), etc. I'm sure this is old hat but if anyone has the standard info pack on what happened here and why, etc. I'll be eternally grateful. (Well, for a few hours any way.) It was a rather harrowing weekend. In raking around in my loft I found the two BoB's (Nige and Flesh No 1) and suddenly realised I can't find the two records. I systematically dismantled the house over the weekend but I can't find them. I seem to remember separating them from the rest of my singles (to keep them safe hah hah hah) and haven't noticed them since we moved house two years ago. I also seem to be missing an Italian Syd Barrett book with lyrics and stuff. Curiously (or not) I do have the free single that came with that. Hamish (the distressed) P.S. The Rain Parade references remind me that one of my bands earlier incarnations went under the name of The Crashing Dream. Not that you were interested. P.P.S. My spirits just lifted then 'cos I just remembered tonight is band practise night an we play Heaven (with saxophone). Tarran-tarrah. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Sep 96 13:29:57 BST From: jturner@rpms.ac.uk (Jonathan Turner) Subject: it's alright, ma, I'm only sighing... *WARNING* if offended by the Independent on Sunday review, don't even start to read this one... Robyn Hitchcock London, The 12 Bar Club It's all in the trousers. Worn to be read - green, spelling "psychedelic," but brand new and ironed, "maturely immature" - the trousers are the key. Before Robyn's even reached the stage, it's clear he's giving the signal for a night of well-rehearsed zaniness ideally suited to a crowd who have read all about rock music, yet never known the secret breath-movements and incantations of its ritual. His delivery, his shoes, Christ, even the way he walks on stage, all of these things, in the context of his performance, become repositories of enforced meaning to be decoded as "coolly informal" and "unknowingly odd," negating any opportunity for transcendence. This is rock music all grown up and aware, the magic gone and replaced with self-consciousness and impotence. Robyn's crowd can read signposts but they're not travellers. Lyrically, there is nothing. That's why I'm reading Robyn's trousers. He dribbles on, his intention obviously that his affected "acid psychosis" stream of consciousness will be so incomprehensible as to be pronounced "mad" and Robyn, therefore, "a genius." Now, I don't concur with the philistine demand for "meaning" all the time, it's just that Robyn's a phoney _and_ he's missing the point. Maybe Robyn should consider again the juxtaposition of words/phrases in the hands of a seer like Dylan. "It's Alright, Ma," say, is much more than madness made apparent; through the clash of images, new trails appear, new truths open up and the scales fall from our eyes. In short, I'd rather see Bob Dylan light his own farts. David Keenan Melody Maker, 14/9/96 But what about the shirt ? Jonathan. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 14:40:22 +0100 (BST) From: M R Godwin Subject: Re: it's alright, ma, I'm only sighing... On Mon, 16 Sep 1996, Jonathan Turner wrote: > *WARNING* if offended by the Independent on Sunday review, don't even start to > read this one... (Lousy review by David Keenan, Melody Maker, 14/9/96 ensues) This is pretty bad. Soon after punk died, the London pop music industry became a branch of sports and youth leisurewear, and RH has committed the ultimate sin in that business - which is to grow up. I fear that a couple more of these could drive RH to live in the States. - MG ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 10:25:59 -0400 (EDT) From: Bayard Subject: Re: Syd Barrett covers > > Is there a list of Syd Barrett songs Robyn Hitchcock has covered? The > > only two I know about are Vegetable Man and Dominoes. I'd love to hear > > RH sing some other stuff off the solo albums. > > Hi Daniel! > > Definitely: > / > Astronomy Domine > Gigolo Aunt > > I think someone also mentioned: > Terrapin i don't have this on my list, i'd be interested if anyone has details. > > And, piscatorially speaking, I would be amazed if he hadn't had a shot at: > Octopus (aka Clowns and Jugglers) at McCabe's, yep > > I'm sure there are others. I know of: dark globe (wouldn't you miss me) : maxwells, NJ 7-28-88 (also the main thing, not sure if that's a barrett tune) wolfpack (a couple times in '93) and of course vegetable man is on the near the SB's ep, now on the UM reissue And as you know, man who invented himself is about syd. ------------------------------ From: HAMISH_SIMPSON@HP-UnitedKingdom-om4.om.hp.com Date: Mon, 16 Sep 96 16:01:22 +0100 Subject: Re: it's alright, ma, I'm only sighing... Item Subject: cc:Mail Text >> *WARNING* if offended by the Independent on Sunday review, don't >> even start to read this one... > (Lousy review by David Keenan, Melody Maker, 14/9/96 ensues) > This is pretty bad. > Soon after punk died, the London pop music industry became a branch > of sports and youth leisurewear, and RH has committed the ultimate > sin in that business - which is to grow up. > I fear that a couple more of these could drive RH to live in the > States. > - MG I, for one, am glad that Robyn does not do what it takes to get popular acclaim. (Both public and critical.) And anyway, what contributions have the music criticism industry actually made to popular music, to show that "they know any better". The Pet Shop Boys???? Let he who is without sin etc.. Hamish (still looking for those records) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 11:07:13 -0400 (EDT) From: ! Subject: Re: it's alright, ma, I'm only sighing... argh. i try not to get bent out of shape when a reviewer trashes a favored artist, but this kind of review really gets my goat. dammit, just because the meaning of a song isn't obvious the first time you listen to it doesn't mean there isn't one. syd barrett, emily dickinson and franz kafka may well all have been 'mad' but that doesn't mean that there aren't things in their art, however elliptical it may appear at first glance, that are true and meaningful even for people who are not 'mad.' i know, i know, i'm preaching to the converted. argh. i think the last time a pair of reviews made me this angry was when zevon's _mr bad example_ came out and i read something along the lines of 'mr zevon should have had the sense to fade away with randy newman, jimmy buffet, and the rest of the so-cal wimp-rock scene.' argh. so, am i the only feglister who thinks the much-maligned _queen elvis_ is the best of the a&m records by a mile? heck, i even like it better than _eye_. ::ducks:: d. -- oh,no!! you've just read mail from doug -- dmayowel@access.digex.net a.k.a. dougmhyphw@aol.com -- get yr recently updated pathos at http://www.mwmw.com/pathetic/ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 16:08:32 +0100 (BST) From: M R Godwin Subject: The clam beneath the boulder's hiding On Mon, 16 Sep 1996, Bayard wrote: Re: Terrapin > i don't have this on my list, i'd be interested if anyone has details. MG replies: I could just have misremembered - but I would have thought that all that 'floating bumping noses dodge a tooth the fins are luminous' stuff would have maximum feg appeal... > dark globe (wouldn't you miss me) : maxwells, NJ 7-28-88 (also the main > thing, not sure if that's a barrett tune) Never heard of the main thing. Currently confirmed list consists of: / Astronomy Domine Dark Globe (Won't You Miss Me) Dominoes Gigolo Aunt Octopus (Clowns and Jugglers) Vegetable Man Wolfpack Any further additions to the canon? - Mike Godwin PS Isn't it about time that SYD released 'Vegetable Man'? Or has Roger Waters put a veto on ever releasing it? ------------------------------ From: "James Isaacs" Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 18:01:18 CET-1CST Subject: SYD I have a recorded copy of Robyn singing "Octopus", circa 1990. Not with me, of course. James ------------------------------ From: hollie_satterfield@mail.amsinc.com Date: Mon, 16 Sep 96 11:40:48 EST Subject: misc (1) I will not forgive A&M for not releasing Marti Jones' first (and best) album "Unsophisticated Time" on CD, and I will not stop whining about it at the slightest provocation. (2) Somebody should type in the short entertaining blurb about Robyn from Goldmine (from their ad indicating he will be the cover story in an issue or two, as someone has previously mentioned). (3) The greatest hits liner notes are relatively unannoying compared to many I have encountered, and at least there are release dates on the tracks. See the Red Lorry Yellow Lorry singles collection from Cleopatra for liner notes which, although remarkably verbose, contain almost no actual information. (4) Who's on first, Billy Bragg or Robyn? Or are they switching off? (5) To the list of albums which have been substantially altered and re-released I have to add Alan Parsons "Tales of Mystery and Imagination". (Orson Welles' narration arrived too late to be include on the original release, among other things). Thank you drive thru. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 09:23:22 -0700 From: Nick Winkworth Subject: Life as we know it ...so there I am staggering bleary-eyed from my Los Angeles hotel room on Friday morning contemplating, with no small amount of chagrin, a 7:00am breakfast pre-meeting meeting, when I trip over my copy of USA Toady (sorry; "USA Today") --the ubiquitous color comic delivered gratis to the door of millions of similar (identical?) hotel rooms daily (does anyone actually buy this thing?). I practically gagged on my cornflakes as I turned to the front page of the "Life" section (the only readable part) and under "BEST BETS - What's hot and happening this weekend" I see the following: ALBUM - Moss Elixir, by British talent Robyn Hitchcock, is a post modern beauty that quietly showcases the singer/songwriter's sagacious wit, lush melodies and crisp, imaginative arrangements. It's mostly a solo acoustic affair, with occasional assists from the band Homer, plus well placed accompaniment: Deni Bonet's violin on Filthy Bird, Ntchuks Bonga's saxophone on Devils Radio and Dave Woodhead's trumpet on Beautiful Queen. Seek out the equally intriguing 12-song vinyl compilation, Mossy Liquor (Outtakes and Prototypes), of alternative versions and bonus originals. ...plus a nice (color) picture of our man, with the caption "Hitchcock: 'Elixir' goes down easy". Wow, this is practicaly an advert! (The other competing front page items were, TV: Ken Burns epic "The West"; Video: "The Wizard of Oz"; Movie: "Fly Away Home"; Wine: Robert Mondavi to sell Chillean wines, plus a section on the Miss America contest). And in a mass circulation daily to boot! This, my fellow Fegs, is the result of *MARKETING*! It looks like Warners is really trying to give Robyn the push we all know he deserves. God love 'em! (no religious content intended). (The Web site looks cool too!) Yay Warner Brothers!! I'll be wearing my Bugs Bunny underwear today as a gesture of moral support. -Nick P.S. My apologies if someone already posted this. As a digestee ("digestive"?) I occasionally get a few sentences behind in the conversation. ------------------------------ From: Ross Overbury Date: Mon, 16 Sep 96 12:26:06 EDT Subject: Re: it's alright ma, I'm only sighing... doug said: > i try not to get bent out of shape when a reviewer trashes a favored > artist, but this kind of review really gets my goat. > > dammit, just because the meaning of a song isn't obvious the first > time you listen to it doesn't mean there isn't one. syd barrett, > emily dickinson and franz kafka may well all have been 'mad' but that > doesn't mean that there aren't things in their art, however elliptical > it may appear at first glance, that are true and meaningful even > for people who are not 'mad.' > > [SNIP] > What I got out of it was that the critic thought Robyn's attitute was contrived. I'd be more inclined to accuse Ozzy Osbourne or Ted Nugent of this. If the "madness" were contrived, I would expect Robyn to respond otherwise in interviews (or to decline interviews). Did Ozzy bite bats' heads off when nobody was watching? The sort of ad libs I've read attributed to RH (if they were really ad libs) would be pretty hard to fake, but not hard to rehearse, which was the charge laid by the critic. Those of you on this list who have had occasion to interview RH or who have seen him perform many times should be able to spot that sort of contrivance. I can't say I am in a position to make that call with any authority, but I think I know the answer. That's why I'm subscribed to this group. Maybe the *critic* is just affecting an attitude. > so, am i the only feglister who thinks the much-maligned _queen elvis_ > is the best of the a&m records by a mile? heck, i even like it better > than _eye_. ::ducks:: My introduction to RH was through CBC radio's "Brave New Wave" show many years back. I told of my "discovery" to my brother-in-law (a radio DJ), who promptly came over with a shopping bag full of RH. I listened for a couple of weeks, and decided I was pretty interested, but bought nothing for quite some time. When I did, it was ---- Queen Elvis, only because I wanted to start with his current release. I enjoyed it thoroughly (haircut notwithstanding) and went on to buy just about the whole darned catalogue. I still enjoy Queen Elvis thoroughly. A while back one of you quoted RH as saying PI was fine for those who hadn't heard of Morrissey. I hadn't! I found "Your Arsenal" for $6 (that'd be $4 US!) and took it home. Interesting stuff. That's all for now -- gotta go to the bookstore and pick up some Emily Dickinson. Thanks for the leads! -- Ross Overbury Montreal, Quebec, Canada email: rosso@cn.ca ------------------------------ From: Terrence M Marks Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 12:39:44 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: Syd Barrett covers He's also done Astronomy Domine (w/ Soft Boys) Wolfpack (w/ Egyptians) Gigolo Aunt Dark Globe Octopus Personally, I'd've loved to have had the Egyptians (with Roger) cover "Love You", but that didn't happen. Terry "The Human Mellotron" Marks normal@grove.ufl.edu On Sun, 15 Sep 1996, Daniel Saunders wrote: > Is there a list of Syd Barrett songs Robyn Hitchcock has covered? The > only two I know about are Vegetable Man and Dominoes. I'd love to hear > RH sing some other stuff off the solo albums. > ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Sep 96 10:12:00 -0800 From: Russ Reynolds Subject: surgery >> Is the version of Surgery on the BOB flexi-disc the same as the You & >> Oblivion version? > >Nope. SLightly different I beg to differ with you here. I don't hear any difference between the flexi, the video and the Y&O version. is there a place in particular during the song that you can point to as being noticably different? to me, the big clue that they're identical is the same false stanza bleeding through in all three versions. -russ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Sep 96 10:42:00 -0800 From: Russ Reynolds Subject: USA today Nick, thanks for posting the USA Today blurb...don't know how the rest of us missed it but apparently we all did. Either that, or nobody wanted to admit to purchasing a McPaper. I fished it out of the recycling bin at work after reading your post this morning. -rr ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 10:07:52 -0700 (PDT) From: "Trixie, Bunny and Peaches" Subject: Re: Life as we know it On Mon, 16 Sep 1996, Nick Winkworth wrote: > ... Robyn Hitchcock, is a post modern... i *knew* that that would be used again. it haad to be--far too much of a catch phrase. it is more than that little sticker on, what i think a fine album, QE. but, just what is post-modern when it comes to pop music?? i have my ideas but would like to hear others... over, .chris ------------------------------ From: Terrence M Marks Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 13:18:44 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: The clam beneath the boulder's hiding > PS Isn't it about time that SYD released 'Vegetable Man'? Or has Roger > Waters put a veto on ever releasing it? The entire band put a veto on ever releasing it. Originally, Opel was to include Vegetable Man and Scream Thy Last Scream. The entire band (Dave,Roger,Rick and Nick) thought it would be inappropriate. I don't think that anyone really bothered Syd about it. Terrence "The Human Mellotron" Marks ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Sep 96 11:04:00 -0800 From: Russ Reynolds Subject: METRO REVIEW Has there been a review in Rolling Stone or SPIN yet? here's one from the San Jose area publication Metro (Aug 29-Sept 4): LIFTING UP ROBYN'S CRUSTY CARAPACE Robyn Hitchcock reveals a soft, heartfelt side on 'Moss Elixir' At the SXSW music and media conference in Texas last March, English singer/songwriter Robyn Hitchcock kindly took part in a panel discussion titled "Why Rock Criticism Sucks." There, it immediately became his unlovely task to be the sole defender of a much-maligned profession, a job he fulfilled with both humility and grace. "Without rock critics," said Hitchcock, "I wouldn't have a career," and he is probably right. Rock critics--on the whole a shy, awkward and introverted breed--are highly attracted to fellow eccentrics, particularly when said eccentrics are (like Hitchcock) both bettr-looking than they are and more socially apt. Thus, they have embraced Hitchcock in his every incarnation, first as a member of the obscure and culty Monty Pythonesque band called the Soft Boys, which he began in 1978, later with an outfit called Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians, and finally as a solo artist. In that time, Hitchcock has churned out a series of albums that were uniformly witty and charming, if a bit on the nonsensical side, full of songs with titles like "Leppo and the Jooves," "Brenda's Iron Sledge" and "Queen Elvis." Hitchcock's oeuvre has been hilarious and poignant, a kind of absurdist running commentary on pop. Unfortunately, the world at large seemed to have little use for a debonair Englishmen [sic] who writes poignant songs about reptiles, Hoovers (vacuum cleaners, to you), prawns and death, and the innate oddness of his texts hasn't been helped by a tendency to jump labels (in 18 years, he's been on a minimum of 10 labels--surely a record of some kind--and maybe the reason he hasn't found a wider audience). This year, however, Hitchcock has finally alighted at Warner Bros., a haven for highly regarded eccentrics. His Warner debut, MOSS ELIXIR (There's an alternate version on vinyl called MOSSY LIQUOR as well, which contains outtakes and versions of songs sung in Swedish--very Hitchcock), is 'round about his 19th solo effort. Musically, it covers much of the same territory as the last five or six albums--it's full of chiming, Byrdsian Rickenbackers, droning rhythms and faintly baroque allusions to '60's psychedelia (live, he's been covering Hendrix lately--unplugged). But lyrically, Hitchcock seems to be struggling, finally, to find a more direct voice. Sure, the record has its inane moments--the occasional Monty Pythonesque line like, "I say Caroline, no need to spell it backwards/That's Enilorac!" (from "I Am Not Me") or "De Chirico Street," on which Hitchcock pictures himself being followed home one night by a weighing machine. Most of MOSS ELIXIR, however, is in tune with ordinary human passions, like life, death, love, and lust. The mood here is close to that of 1984's quiet and elegiac I OFTEN DREAM OF TRAINS, complete with a clearer emotional current than his previous LPs. "Filthy Bird," for example, is a strange but moving number that has faint political overtones in Hitchcock's chant "a happy bird is a filthy bird," which evokes pathetic images of oil-drowned seagulls on the coast of Alaska. "Devil's Radio" is an almost explicit condemnation of right-wing talk radio: "Kate said, the flowers of intolerance and hatred/are blooming kind of early this year... someone's been watering them/we were listening to the devil's radio.'" "Beautiful Queen" is one of Hitchcock's most direct love songs ever. And the opening track, "Sinister But She Was Happy," though admittedly full of strange and evocative wild imagery, is positively intelligible: "She was sinister but she was happy/basically she was the Jean Moreau type/with a cheery smile and a poison blowpipe/like a kind of spider half inclined to free you." Another great example of this newfound clarity of purpose is on the death-obsessed "Oblivion and You" [sic] (the title cut from last year's Rhino rarities LP), which takes the black humor of "My Wife and My Dead Wife" and elevates it, at long last, to something poignant and humane. "Gliding past hedges and clocks," he sings to a dead girlfriend, "off to infinity/I can remember your locks/and your virginity." MOSS ELIXIR is by no means an easy listen. It takes a few spins to get to the bottom of the album's charms, and Hitchcock indulges in his fair share of tangled verbosity. But as songs like "Oblivion" prove, the real Robyn is at last emerging from his crusty shell, and the soft pink tissue--in the form of heartfelt songs--that lies beneath the carapace is beautiful to see. - [by] Gina Arnold ------------------------------ From: Terrence M Marks Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 13:35:27 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: surgery I think that the false stanza is part of the song Terry "The Human Mellotron" Marks normal@grove.ufl.edu On Mon, 16 Sep 1996, Russ Reynolds wrote: > >> Is the version of Surgery on the BOB flexi-disc the same as the You & > >> Oblivion version? > > > >Nope. SLightly different > > I beg to differ with you here. I don't hear any difference between the > flexi, the video and the Y&O version. is there a place in particular during > the song that you can point to as being noticably different? > > to me, the big clue that they're identical is the same false stanza bleeding > through in all three versions. > > -russ > ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 13:32:26 -0400 From: Alex Tanter Subject: madness Not to sound pompous, but as a scholar of Emily Dickinson's work, I have to say that she was not "mad." By the same token, I do not think Robyn is "mad." I like the paralleling of them, whoever did it first is very astute. Whenever someone, an artist per se, is unusual or writes in a way that differs from what is normally presented to the public by other artists, that person is often called "weird" or "mad" or "queer" (not in terms of homosexuality, but the other meaning) or "odd" or any other similar term. Sometimes Robyn is being obtuse; sometimes he's beingn funny; sometimes he's just putting words together to see how they sound or how they go with the music. A lot of his appeal, for me, is his unusualness. Marcy Tanter ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Sep 96 11:27:00 -0800 From: Russ Reynolds Subject: Re: surgery Terry sez: >I think that the false stanza is part of the song well, as funky as that sounds, I suppose he MIGHT have wanted to leave that in on a different version, but I still fail to hear any difference between the flexi, the video and the Y&O version. >>is there a place in particular during the song that you can point to as >>being noticably different? anybody else hear a difference? -rr ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 13:50:22 -0400 (EDT) From: ! Subject: Re: madness On Mon, 16 Sep 1996, Alex Tanter wrote: > Not to sound pompous, but as a scholar of Emily Dickinson's work, I have > to say that she was not "mad." By the same token, I do not think Robyn > is "mad." I like the paralleling of them, whoever did it first is very > astute. Whenever someone, an artist per se, is unusual or writes in a > way that differs from what is normally presented to the public by other > artists, that person is often called "weird" or "mad" or "queer" (not in > terms of homosexuality, but the other meaning) or "odd" or any other > similar term. yah, when i saw my words quoted back i realized that it could be interpreted that i meant Robyn was ripe for the looney bin, which was not what i meant -- i meant that saying someone was crazy, or eccentric, was a not a valid or useful form of artistic criticism. d. -- oh,no!! you've just read mail from doug -- dmayowel@access.digex.net a.k.a. dougmhyphw@aol.com -- get yr recently updated pathos at http://www.mwmw.com/pathetic/ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 12:47:09 -0500 (CDT) From: sdodge@inforel.com (Truman Peyote) Subject: Re: The clam beneath the boulder's hiding >On Mon, 16 Sep 1996, Bayard wrote: > >Re: Terrapin >> i don't have this on my list, i'd be interested if anyone has details. > >MG replies: I could just have misremembered - but I would have thought >that all that 'floating bumping noses dodge a tooth the fins are luminous' >stuff would have maximum feg appeal... You're right, it does :). >> dark globe (wouldn't you miss me) : maxwells, NJ 7-28-88 (also the main >> thing, not sure if that's a barrett tune) > >Never heard of the main thing. That's probably because it belongs to Roxy Music's "Avalon" (Warner Brothers/EG Records 1982- the trivia geek that lives inside my head made me write that) and has nothing at all to do with poor Syd :). Yet another cover from "Avalon"- didn't Robyn once list that in his infamous top ten? >Currently confirmed list consists of: > > / >Astronomy Domine Where is this located? I MUST HEAR THIS! (excited jumping up and down) >Dark Globe (Won't You Miss Me) >Dominoes >Gigolo Aunt >Octopus (Clowns and Jugglers) >Vegetable Man >Wolfpack > >Any further additions to the canon? Nope. But I wish he'd do "Love You", which is my favorite Syd song. Not that anyone was holding their breath waiting to find that out. >- Mike Godwin > >PS Isn't it about time that SYD released 'Vegetable Man'? Or has Roger >Waters put a veto on ever releasing it? Probably. One caveat here though- I don't like Roger Waters, so I tend to attribute behavior of that nature to him regardless of whether or not he is in fact guilty :). Susan P.S. Sometime last week, Mr. Godwin, you reminded me that Mr. Hamish Simpson referred to my favorite not-Robyn songwriter of all time as "Raymond Bignose Davies". At this juncture, I am compelled to remind Hamish that he is a member of a "beat combo" and consequently should not throw stones at anyone. So there :). ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 12:47:15 -0500 (CDT) From: sdodge@inforel.com (Truman Peyote) Subject: Re: Queen Elvis and Oblivion >Terry asks: > >Q: Are there any labels out there that you guys *like*? > >Rex answers: yeah, the ones that reissue stiff that ultimately turned out to >be cool, years later. You mean like everyone's two favorite labels that start with the same letter? I'm assuming btw, Rex, that that last was a typo and not a reference to Stiff records :). Although your sentence would still be more or less accurate. Hindsight is 20/20, y'know. As to the multinational >conglomerates trying to second-guess the tastes of the youth of today-- it's >not for me to "like" or "dislike" them. As the Band said, "You pay for what >you need, and you leave the rest..." But it's kinda fun to hate them all the same, isn't it? >However, I WILL accept geeky, holier-than-thou credit As you so richly deserve! :) for pointing out the >difference between the "good" and "shitty" Beach Boys records entitled >"Surf's Up" (I think the Amazing James did mention it initially)... congrats >on finding the decent one... Re REM: >Love REM, owe them everything, including perhaps my life, I knew Rex would have something to say about this!! but the Robyn >connection is way overstated, Absolutely. Although I do seem to recall some famous quote about the SB's being a bigger REM influence than the Byrds. Was it Buck that said this? so I understand and forgive this. I think that >the only real connection lies in Peter Buck's Soft Boys fanship-- underscored >by the recent appearance of "Dark Green Energy" on "Greatest Hits"... Stipe >sucks on "She Doesn't Exist" and clearly feels a little funny singing "Just >like a boil!" on "Dark Green"... I don't think he gets it... This is sort of apparent. I find it kind of embarrassing to listen to for both of their sakes. Did anyone else see a connection between this particular song and the movie "How To Get Ahead In Advertising"? :) Thinking of that movie fills me with glee, although really the connection is somewhat specious, I know. >Susan, darling Susan, at the thought of whose beauty all known superlatives >bang their inadequate, sorry heads against cold granite walls in dumb, >flaccid frustration at their hopelessness to encompass, ultimately giving up >and heading down the pub to try and put the whole silly project behind them, Oh, Rex! I feel faint. I think you have to kiss me before I can revive. It may take a long time, too :). Rex's commentary again: >ammends my dismissal of "Queen Elvis" with the following: > >"Still, "Devil's Coachman" does rock the world. It's the only song I really > >like on that record." Ya know, listening to it today I was thinking "Wax Doll" isn't that bad either. But overall, I can't get with that pertikler platter. >...to which I add that I also kinda dig "Knife". And the title track is >great... too bad it's on the vastly superior "Eye" instead... hehe. Very true. "Eye" does indeed rule. >...speaking of which, having just listened to the CD version of "Eye"... has >anyone else noticed the similarity between the "bonus" version of "Queen >Elvis" and "You and Oblivion"? Seems to be the same key, chord voicing, and >electric guitar tone, in addition to sharing a very confessional tone. > Wouldn't even notice the comparison between the acoustic "QE" and the ME >"Y&O", though... Yes! I only just noticed this last night, in fact, when I was listening to "Eye" while writing emails (which explains why I was too absorbed to skip that track, which I normally would have done). I would have listed the guitar tone as the most important similarity, though. Anyone else see this or is it just me and Rex having a big agreement party all by ourselves again? :) >Also spracht Susan, whose red shoes the angels want to wear, on the topic of >"Moss Elixir": >"I seem to be bonding with it too. 'Specially "I Am Not Me". To quote Rx, >'some of you will know why'" > >Whatever could she mean? If you have to ask............ Susan P.S. last night I had a dream that I COULD NOT FIND my copy of Moss. it was very upsetting. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 12:47:21 -0500 (CDT) From: sdodge@inforel.com (Truman Peyote) Subject: Re: it's alright, ma, I'm only sighing... M.R. Godwin sighed: >This is pretty bad. > >Soon after punk died, the London pop music industry became You mean they returned to being, I think...... a branch of >sports and youth leisurewear, and RH has committed the ultimate sin in >that business - which is to grow up. Amen! >I fear that a couple more of these could drive RH to live in the >States. > I'm afraid this is yet another impossible fantasy :). And yet.............you Brits seem to be on a Robyn-bashing roll. I suspect that some US Fegs are behind this conspiracy and they can contact me for contributions if they so please. I'm game. I've written for my college paper, so I know how to write clueless, negative reviews pretty well. Susan ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 14:31:46 -0400 From: Victor Triola Subject: SEOUL TRAIN SCRABBLE ** Low Priority ** Hey cats 'n' kittens. Bored in school? That party growing tired? Re-arrange the letters in R-O-B-Y-N-H-I-T-C-H-C-O-C-K to produce whacky phrases with no real meaning (much like Robyn's own lyrics!) Amaze your friends! Influence people! Here are some examples: **** HOT N.Y.C. CHICK-ORB **** O, THY BRICK CONCH! **** COCK- HORNY BITCH Send in yours today! ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 15:08:14 -0400 (EDT) From: Jennifer Cynthia Waits Subject: Re: I DISed a girl OK...I'm the author of the quote below...I was only speaking of Sobule's "success" in rock....I wasn't making any sort of judgment about her music...in fact I was extremely impressed by her when I saw her open for Robyn and I even bought 2 of her albums....needless to say, however, in the eyes of MTV, etc....she probably does appear to be a one-hit wonder....although she does have a song on the soundtrack of harriet the spy..... jennifer On Sat, 14 Sep 1996 Hedblade@aol.com wrote: > > >Well, the first time I saw Robyn H., They Might Be Giants opened....I > >suppose they had their moment of fame after that (the show was in 1986 or > >1987)....Alex Chilton has opened for him (although his fame probably > >preceded Robyn's)....Jill Sobule had her one-hit wonder..... > > Couldn't let Ms. Sobule take a slap like that without a few words. Now, I'm > not saying she's riding up there with Robyn, however, the album from which > that "one hit wonder" came from is far more interesting and deep than the > single might lead you to believe. In fact, it's a top notch record. > > To judge Jill Sobule on "I Kissed A Girl" is to judge Robyn on "Balloon Man" > alone. Point made? > > > Sincerely, > > Jay > > > !!!!!!!!!!!!!!I FINALLY CHANGED THE POLICE BLOTTER ITEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "A Bowling Green resident struck a farm vehicle Aug. 22 causing light damage to both vehicles." "A university employee reported she came to work on Aug. 27 and South Hall was damaged." (BG News 8-29-96) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 15:22:31 -0400 (EDT) From: Jennifer Cynthia Waits Subject: info on tour dates? Has anyone attempted to get tickets for the Robyn Hitchcock show (supposedly) in Ann Arbor in October? I'm wondering where it will be and if tickets have gone on sale. thanks! jennifer !!!!!!!!!!!!!!I FINALLY CHANGED THE POLICE BLOTTER ITEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "A Bowling Green resident struck a farm vehicle Aug. 22 causing light damage to both vehicles." "A university employee reported she came to work on Aug. 27 and South Hall was damaged." (BG News 8-29-96) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 19:28:15 GMT From: Rob Collingwood Subject: Storm Lantern lyrics As promised in my other message, the lyrics to 'Storm Lantern' (or 'Eerie Green Storm Lantern' or 'Not A Good Night To Be A Red Tomato'). It's an interesting song, a mixture of spoken word and singing. Just seeing the lyrics doesn't really do justice to it. However.... Storm Lantern by Robyn Hitchcock By an eerie green storm lantern three ghouls were playing whist By an eerie green storm lantern in the swirly mist By an eerie green storm lantern how could I resist By an eerie green storm lantern that's the night we kissed How you gonna get right down that spiral staircase How you gonna get right down them spiralling stairs Down below the cobbles shine it's a sixty foot drop from yours to mine (Better make it sixty-nine) All your mistakes come and jabber round your bedside They brush your sleeves with loathsome tentacles They even try to kiss you (ughh) like rotting nurses (curses, curses) 'I'll tuck you in sweetie' says your biggest mistake And after your mistakes in come your failures as only failures can They sit there so reproachfully like a face in a frying pan They sit there all dejected 'til their heads fall in their laps And then they bubble feebly at their lips and their bones protude right through their hips (and hear the ghouls sing) By an eerie green storm lantern three ghouls were playing whist By an eerie green storm lantern in the swirly mist By an eerie green storm lantern how could I resist By an eerie green storm lantern that's the night we kissed You were looking for a taxi But you picked the wrong place for a taxi You're a fool you're down with the ghouls Thin translucent fingers always give the game away See the hearts of little fishes pulsing through that grey skin Or is it the mercury in your veins Two males, one female no pulse, no heartbeat, no ID Not a good night to be a red tomato on a long green stalk Not a good night to be a red tomato let's sit down and talk Pull up a chair why don't you you could get some straw if you'd be more comfortable babe maybe we could rustle up a bean-bag (we're gonna get really close) 'Please sir, send out for some dry stuff for Mister Jarrold. Now Mister Jarrold, take off your glasses. Take off your shirt. Take off your skirt, Mister Jarrold, You're among friends here.' Not a good night to be a red tomato Oh, are these your pips? By an eerie green storm lantern three ghouls were playing whist By an eerie green storm lantern in the swirly mist By an eerie green storm lantern how could I resist By an eerie green storm lantern that's the night we kissed -- Rob Collingwood Warrington, Cheshire, England ------------------------------ From: Willie The Weeper Subject: Re: Syd Barrett covers Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 13:18:43 -0700 At 10:25 16.09.96 -0400, Bayard wrote: >And as you know, man who invented himself is about syd. Hmmm...'Man Who Invented Himself' is about Syd, and most of _Respect_ is about Sir Raymond...does Robyn have any songs that are tributes (or at least subtle homages) to John Lennon? Surely in Robyn's entire corpus opi, there must be one. 'Falling Leaves', perhaps? Back to regularly scheduled programming, --g ########################################################## "A nickel's worth of grease and a dime's worth of lard I would buy more but the times are too hard There ain't no need for me to work so hard 'Cause I can live off the chickens in the neighbor's yard --Jeff Hanna "Mourning Blues" ########################################################## # Glen E. Uber glen@metro.net http://metro.net/glen/ # ########################################################## ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 14:23:54 -0700 (PDT) Subject: blech to rem From: cookie putney swope was wondering if he is the only one who isn't gaga about REM, or as i like to call them, the Sellouts. Life's Rich Pagent was the last decent thing they put out-from then on, i think they saw the $ and dove for it. i mean, if you can't remember your OWN words to songs, and require the words in front of you, don't you think that there's something wrong? but i don't want to stray from the reason for this list. does anyone know if there are going to be other dates added on to the upcoming tour? also-i agree with miles-i can't totally give an opinion about an album until it's digested-somtimes that takes about a year(which is how long it took me to like Perspex Island). but i must say that M.E. has already warmed me up! even though it seems like his most produced work, it's fresh and the tunes are catchy-"it's got a good beat, and you can dance to it!" ------------------------------ From: Terrence M Marks Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 17:29:54 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: Life as we know it > but, just what is post-modern when it comes to pop music?? > i have my ideas but would like to hear others... Hmm.. What's modern when it comes to pop music, rof that matter? [My guess is that the early 80's synth pop qualifies. Ie DEVO, Talking Heads, They Might Be Giants (early).....] Terrence "The Human Mellotron" Marks ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Sep 96 15:06:00 -0800 From: Russ Reynolds Subject: tributes earlier today Glen wondered: >Hmmm...'Man Who Invented Himself' is about Syd, and most of _Respect_ is >about Sir Raymond...does Robyn have any songs that are tributes (or at >least >subtle homages) to John Lennon? I dunno, but I'm pretty sure "Trams Of Old London" is a tribute to actor Bob Denver. -rr (I always thought TMWHI was about Jesus, by the way. The Rhiner notes would seem to support that) ------------------------------ From: Terrence M Marks Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 18:01:46 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Seeking Trades I *NEED* a copy of the new songs. Will trade 2 tapes of other material for one tape with any of the post-elixer stuff (storm lanterns, I don't remember guildford, 1974...if you have the tapes, you know the songs, prolly). ALso, I'm looking for any Soft Boys outtakes/unusual things (especially "Bad Decision" and Soft Boys versions of non-Soft Boys songs) any sort of unusual arrangements...anything. Posting a big ad, saying "please sell me stuff" and waiting for salesmen.. Terry "The Human Mellotron" Marks normal@grove.ufl.edu ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 17:42:28 -0500 From: Brandt Subject: Lennon Willie The Weeper wrote: > Hmmm...'Man Who Invented Himself' is about Syd, and most of _Respect_ is > about Sir Raymond...does Robyn have any songs that are tributes (or at least > subtle homages) to John Lennon? Somewhere Apart was certainly written in Lennon's style, but is not about him. I did read a Robyn interview where he said "I Watch The Cars" on BSDR was written shortly after Lennon got shot. I think a lot of folks probably got drunk inside their houses and watched the cars go by after they heard that news. hal ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Sep 96 17:04:00 -0800 From: Russ Reynolds Subject: Re: Lennon >Somewhere Apart was certainly written in Lennon's >style, but is not about him. I did read a Robyn >interview where he said "I Watch The Cars" on BSDR was >written shortly after Lennon got shot. I think a lot of >folks probably got drunk inside their houses and watched >the cars go by after they heard that news. I think the BSDR Rhiner notes say the song was *recorded* the day Lennon was shot, so I would assume it was written well in advance of that. >>does Robyn have any songs that are tributes (or at least >> subtle homages) to John Lennon? This would actually be a very good question to pose to Mr. H next time one of us gets a chance to do some question posing. -rr ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 18:39:47 GMT From: Rob Collingwood Subject: Another review (a positive one) I've just been given this review of the 20th August show at the 12 Bar. Hopefully, it will cheer everyone up after the bad reviews. It's from the Sunday Telegraph (25/08/96), like the Indy on Sunday but more right wing. At the same time I was given the lyrics to Storm Lantern(?), which I think is the only one of the new songs that the lyrics haven't been posted for yet. I'll post them in another message. Headline - Miles off the wall Written by Tobias Hill (who won a poetry competition recently) And now for something completely different. Robyn Hitchcock comes out onto the stage wearing a green and red salamander shirt, leans grizzled chops over the microphone, and open s with a new song called 'Not A Good Night To Be A Red Tomato'. *(AKA 'Storm Lantern' or 'Eerie Green Storm Lantern' - Rob)* Not to be outdone in the funny-interesting stakes, the Twelve Bar Club is a 16th-century barn, squirrelled away in an alley behind Andy's Music Shop in Denmark Street. There is a plastic aspidestra in the alley. Inside, the tiny bar has a capacity of 80-going-on-60, and Hitchcock's head pokes through a hole to the first-floor circle. The crowd blows smoke rings at his head. The whole place is eerily reminiscent of Hitchcocks own lyrics. It's a disturbing prospect. 'Ur, this is about hatred and how much fun it is. Ur um, I think the reason people were so scared of CDs when they first came out is because the thinness of the CD cases reminded them of the slices they could be chopped up into if their relationships went wrong.' Hitchcock riffs his fingers across his acoustic guitar and starts to sing, along with half the audience. It's a clue; just in case the shirt and the aspidestra didn't make it obvious, Robyn Hitchcock is a cult musician. There are people here who have turned up to watch him every Tuesday for the past month. It's like The Rocky Horror Show. Any minute someone's going to jump on stage, flash their suspenders and wave a candle. A small, lovely venue, and a congregation-like crowd. It could be that this is how Hitchcock likes it - that arenas and chart success are not part of his plan. His style was off-the-wall when he played with the Soft Boys 20 years ago, it remained well clear of the wall when he formed The Egyptians, and it has been stuck to the ceiling ever since. Despite this, he is an excellent guitarist, using acoustic and electric to their full range. But it's the folk roots of Hitchcock's earliest work that comes through in the most beautiful of his new songs - A Happy Bird Is A Filthy Bird and The Speed Of Things, both from the new solo album Moss Elixer. Almost despite himself, the best of his songs sound more like Euan McCall than John Cale. There are other songs - Heliotrope, Let's Go Thundering - where he pushes his bass-baritone voice up to a shrill, uncharacteristically poppish treble. The main performance finishes to the obligatory cries of 'encore'. Hitchcock instantly bounds back on in gleaming white pyjamas. The packed room is swelteringly hot, the side-doors have been thrown open to a prime panorama of a London back-alley graffiti and odour, but no one seems to mind. They're not even blowing smoke rings anymore. The support band - The Homers- come back on to back up a five-track finale. They play on Moss Elixer, and they look comfortable enough on stage with Hitchcock to provide a new support band. But that might not be part of the cult figure's grand plan. 'I'm not afraid to be the only person on the planet' he sings in the night's penultimate track, Beautiful Queen. Hitchcock looks happy solo, miles away from the walls, doing his own thing. -- Rob Collingwood Warrington, Cheshire, England ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 18:50:13 -0500 From: Miles Goosens Subject: Bad UK Reviews >On Mon, 16 Sep 1996, Jonathan Turner wrote: > >> *WARNING* if offended by the Independent on Sunday review, don't even start to >> read this one... > >(Lousy review by David Keenan, Melody Maker, 14/9/96 ensues) Many Americans on the list are probably unaware of the longstanding British rock press tradition of slagging off everything by fellow Brits except for their first single. I wasn't upset by these reviews simply because I'd long ago given up on taking anything in the NME or MM seriously. I mean, they hate *everything* that isn't the flavo(u)r of the month, so why get worked up because they've sneered at Robyn again? Most of the writing in the British weeklies affects the gonzo "writer-bigger- than-story" attitude, something you have to be a supremely good writer (Hunter S. Thompson and Lester Bangs come to mind) to pull off successfully, and adds an unhealthy dash of "hipper-than-thou"-ness. Sometimes their irreverance can be quite fun, especially when their invective is loosed against worthy targets, but given the mediocre skills of their writers, it mostly comes off as purile and half-assed. [aside: the Brits are much better at sneering uppityness than us Yanks. For example, take (please!) the NME-wannabes who crowd the review staff at _Spin_. Their pointless rantings and clumsy interjections make the said UK writers look competent by comparison.] For whatever reason, it seems that the NME/MM folks have a special loathing for many of the U.K. pop acts of the early and mid-'80s (RH, Billy Bragg, the Jazz Butcher, the more adventurous Blue Aeroplanes, Lloyd Cole) who never "made it" commercially either at home or abroad. Anyone have any insight into why this should be? Later, Miles ===================================================================== My Album of the Year, 1980-1985 1980: Clash, London Calling 1981: Clash, Sandinista! 1982: Bruce Springsteen, Nebraska 1983: Talking Heads, Speaking in Tongues 1984: Robyn Hitchcock, I Often Dream of Trains 1985: Jason and the Scorchers, Lost & Found Miles Goosens goosenmk@ctrvax.vanderbilt.edu ===================================================================== ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 17 Sep 1996 13:13:25 +1100 From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan) Subject: Re: hallucinogens? >Victor Triola wrote: >> Have you fine folks ever discussed if the >> deliriously-twisted images Mr. H concocts are inspired by any sort of >> hallucinogen? (Linda Ryan in the sky w/diamonds....) well, I made the comment several months back that if you pronounce "Can o' Bees" carefully, it might give a clue where some of the ideas for that album may have come from... but as to hallucinogens, I don't think any real mention has been made of them. James ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 20:14:04 GMT From: Rob Collingwood Subject: Re: 1) QE 2) ME 3) Birdshead 4) Me & ME 5) REM In a message Rex write: > 1) > Q: How readily available is "Queen Elvis"? > > A: Depends entirely on where you live. From previous posts, I gather it's > completely out of print in Canada. US residents outside major metropli seem > to have trouble finding it, too, so it might be out of print here, but nary a > week goes by in LA when I don't see at least one in a used bin about town. > > If you're desperate for a copy, I can probably find one, but, if "QE" has, as > it seems, attained semi-lengendary status as a "lost jewel", be warned: it's > so lightweight that it put me off Robyn for a few years... It's unavailable in the UK as well. If anyone in the US has a spare one on CD and they'd like to trade it for something not available in the US, mail me. [snip] > 2) > Is this (outright dismissal) the common UK reaction to Robyn these days? See the Sunday Telegraph review I just posted. The review of ME in Mojo was quite good, didn't Mike Godwin post that one? > > 3) > Christopher Donnell asks: > "Is the version of Birdshead on Pave The Earth (A&M sampler) the same > > as the one on You & Oblivion." > > NO NO NO NO! It isn't. The "Pave" version is otherwise unavailable-- it's It is available on the Invisible History boot, along with sundry other tracks including Astronomy Domine (FAO Susan) -- Rob Collingwood Warrington, Cheshire, England ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 22:47:11 -0400 (EDT) From: Nitnit Subject: Virgin Sampler? CDnow lists a UK import titled "Robyn Hitchcock Virgin Sampler", but doesn't include a track listing. Is this release merely a collection of assorted album cuts? ML in Canada: Still no sightings. I ordered it through a record store in Toronto as well as 2 mail order companies in the US. All three are backordered. ARGH! With my luck, they'll arrive simultaneously and I'll have to pay for them all. -- Wanda Chu tintin@io.org ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 23:08:59 -0400 (EDT) From: Bayard Subject: Re: Virgin Sampler? On Mon, 16 Sep 1996, Nitnit wrote: > > CDnow lists a UK import titled "Robyn Hitchcock Virgin Sampler", > but doesn't include a track listing. Is this release merely a > collection of assorted album cuts? with the exception of "statue w/a walkman", yep, i think so. everything else is album stuff. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 20:31:33 -0700 From: afink@ix.netcom.com (Aaron Finkelstein) Subject: De Chiciro (Lovely stuff about Birdshead not deleted, thusly: >3) >Christopher Donnell asks: >"Is the version of Birdshead on Pave The Earth (A&M sampler) the same > >as the one on You & Oblivion." > >NO NO NO NO! It isn't. The "Pave" version is otherwise unavailable-- it's >live from McCabe's and is infinitely superior the the "Y&O" version. No >Peter Buck starpower, and a warts-and-all reading (he gets REALLY lost in the >solo) but an enormously affecting delivery and essential, IMHO. Your description makes it sound an awful lot like the version I have on "Invisible History," which is also recorded at McCabe's. They are, perhaps, one and the same, no? I am completely in agreement with your assessment, however. Knocked me clean out when I first heard it. Maybe it's the lyric change at the end of the last chorus?) But that's not the reason for this post. I thought stateside fegdom might be interested in a New York Times article from 13 Sep on the surrealist artist Angelo de Chirico, whose work I highly recommend. He has an exhibition at Hunter College these days, and the article is a servicable bio and intro to his great influence. Some of his images may be hauntingly familiar to anybody who spends a lot of time staring at Robyn covers. (Technically, he's a Metaphysicist painter, but the Surrealists held him up as a precursor of their work. I only point this out to placate any Art Historians out there, who's flames tend to be brutal and merciless.) I should warn you that the Hitchcock mentioned in the article is almost certainly Alfred. But we can dream, can't we? This post comes a bit late, I suppose. That hideous Real Life has rudely intruded on my slobbering highbrow fanboy literati musings is my only excuse. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The End of this Fegmaniax Digest. *sob* .